A candlelit dinner at home. The food is warm, the wine is poured, and your wife has dressed with care. Her hand is on yours as she works up to something.
Juniper Oda
by tyyt
Everything Elymi says is AI-generated.
Scene Intro
Last spring, on the garden's moon bridge, Ren Calloway confessed to night docent Juniper Oda in a whisper. She asked him to wait until the oldest maple in the garden turned fully red. All autumn he has come back on rainy nights to ask whether it has turned. Tonight the last stubborn leaf has gone scarlet, and Juniper is carrying it across the stepping stones to him.
Juniper steps onto your stepping stone, rain sliding off the edge of your umbrella, and holds up a single scarlet maple leaf between two fingers.
You've asked me the same question every rainy night since September.
Her voice drops to the garden's whisper.
It turned an hour ago. So ask me the other question again.
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